Chapter Two
"Who are you?" The Doctor demanded. "You don't recognize me?" she asked, "Even when I tell you that I'm that little girl who could say the names of both you and your companion before you told me your names. That was back of course when your hair was a lot less floppy and your companion was a little more, well, blonde." Clara crossed her arms but was unsure if she was just insulted or not. "Kitty?" the Doctor asked. She bowed politely and replied, "At your service, Doctor and Clara Oswald." Clara gasped loudly at the sound of her name. "What? You never thought I would come back? You did take me traveling with you, Doctor, even though it was only twice," Kitty told. "That makes a lot of sense," the Doctor explained, "This thing should track down anyone and anything that's been through the Time Vortex. After someone travels with me, I usually hack into this thing and make them invisible to the scanner. But every once in a while I forget to and this thing goes whack!" Kitty shrugged her shoulders and looked a little sad that she was forgotten.
"Well, now," the Doctor interrupted, "We said we were leaving with a child and it would seem very suspicious if we don't leave with one." The Doctor turned to Kitty and smiled. "Ready for another trip, Kitty?"
Clara helped Kitty take all her stuff and shove it into her backpack that was covered with a thin layer of dirt. As they all walked out, the office lady gave them a threatening look, but Kitty only winked at her as they went out the doors. "So, where would you like to go?" Clara smiled and replied, "I've always wanted to see 1800's London." "No, I meant Kitty. You always get to pick where we go, Clara. Learn to share! Anyway, why would you want to go there? It's not um, original enough."
Clara remained silent for the rest of the way back to the TARDIS. And even after tracing the energy back to Kitty, and blocking her on the scanner, the TARDIS still refused to open no matter what. "Oh come on Sexy, you can do it," the Doctor shouted. "I highly doubt I can do it. I can hardly open a pickle jar, let alone a TARDIS," Clara smirked. "I wasn't talking to- oh, never mind…"
This whole time, Kitty only kept her mouth closed and continually wrung her hands. She really seemed to be mysterious. "It's not going to open, Doctor. I-I can't tell you why, but it's not going to open," Kitty told nervously. "You really seem to know what's going on Kitty. Are you not telling me something," the Doctor bent down to her and looked her right in her brown eyes. She scrunched her brow and attempted to look in another direction. "Well, then," he said, "if you're not going to tell me what's going on I'm guessing we're just going to find out ourselves. Clara, how's getting a coffee sound?" The Doctor mocked Kitty, "You don't get any coffee."
Luckily there was a small, hipster coffee shop just down the block from the school. Kitty hung her head low as people stared in awe at the Doctor and Clara, who were playfully holding hands as they walked. "Are these people just really against public signs of affection or something," Clara whispered to Kitty. "Yeah, somethin' like that or whatever," Kitty mumbled while kicking a tiny stone down the long street, only looking up to make sure she wouldn't run into a pole. She lagged behind the couple, skidding to a stop when they began to approach the cutesy café. "Uh, maybe you guys shouldn't go in there. The people are usually very unwelcoming to non-regulars," Kitty made up on the spot. She knew the people in that shop would know exactly who the Doctor and Clara were. "Ya know, I really don't care at this point," Clara pointed out. Kitty fought back a smile when she noticed they still hadn't let go of each other's hands. She kicked the stone on final time and watched as it fell slowly down the nearest storm drain, letting the leftover rain water carry it down the hole.
It was almost like a scene from a Western. The trio burst through the doors of the coffeehouse and everyone put down their drinks, stopped talking, and stared at the newcomers. "Now I see what you were saying about them not being too warm and fuzzy," the Doctor mumbled. Kitty pulled out two pairs of sunglasses from her beaten up backpack and shoved them in the Doctor's non-Clara hand. He put them on and Clara did the same. They both silently giggled when they noticed they were both wearing vomit green shutter shades than were sliding off both their faces. A little girl who looked about five came up to the Doctor and tugged on his jacket. "Doctor, take those silly glasses off! I like the bowtie more!"
The Doctor stood there speechless. He slowly leaned down and grabbed the little girl's hands. "How do you know who I am?"
The little girl giggled and said, "Because you're in my TV, silly!" The Doctor turned to see Kitty slowly backing out of the shop in fear. Clara also took a stand. "But how is he in your TV?" The little girl grinned even bigger. "You're in my TV, too, Clara. You're on my TV every Saturday on channel one fourteen!"
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. Nobody even dared to breathe.
As if that little girl with rosy cheeks and curly pigtails pressed a pause button which froze the whole room. One powerful word from the Doctor sent a crack through the room and let life continue.
"KITTY?!"